Crop feeding means for an axial flow combine having side by side threshing units

ABSTRACT

Crop feeding means for a combine having two or more axial flow type threshing and separating means, each comprising a generally horizontal and cylinderical casing with longitudinally extending concaves and grates and a rotor on an axial shaft within the cylindrical casing having rasp bars and blades cooperating with the concaves and grates, respectively, to thresh and separate grain from crop material. On the forward end of each shaft are auger flights for feeding crops to the rasp bar bearing rotor and the concaves. A sloping surface extends downwardly and forwardly from mid-portions of the auger flights to the bottom wall of the crop elevator. The crop is delivered by a crop elevator to the sloping surface for directing the crop upwardly into mid-portions of the auger flights. In one form of this invention a beater is disposed above a portion of the sloping surface, the beater facilitating the feeding of crop material from the crop elevator to the auger flights on the rotor shaft. The beater is provided with knife sections which cooperate with stationary sections facilitating the splitting of the crop material so that it may be more easily fed into the threshing and separating means. In another form of this invention the crop elevator is provided with means to sever and/or chop the material as it is being conveyed and away from the header.

United States Patent [1 1 De Coene et a1.

[451 Feb. 26,1974

[75] Inventors: Frans Jozef De Coene, Zedelgem,

' Belgium; Edward Williman Rowland 111111, Lancaster, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New

Holland, Pa.

22 Filed: Aug. 27, 1971 21 Appl.N0.: 175,522

[52] US. Cl. 130/27 T, 56/l4.6, 198/217,

146/163 [51] Int. Cl. A011 7/06 [58] Field of Search 56/l4.6, 158, 315, 192;

130/27 T, 21; 146/59, 117, 107 T, 163, 108, ll8,119,1l7.1, 120,121,164; 198/9,103,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,244,271 4/1966 Wenning 198/217 3,616,800 ll/l97l Rowland-Hill et a1. 130/27 T Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank A. Seemar; John R. Flanagan; Joseph A. Brown [57 ABSTRACT Crop feeding means for a combine having two or more axial flow type threshingand separating means, each comprising a generally horizontal and cylinderical casing with longitudinally extending concaves and grates and a rotor on an axial shaft within the cylindrical casing having rasp bars and blades cooperating with the concaves and grates, respectively, to thresh and separate grain from crop material. On the forward end of each shaft are auger flights for feeding crops to the rasp bar bearing rotor and the concavesv A sloping surface extends downwardly and forwardly from midportions of the auger flights to the bottom wall of the crop elevator. The crop is delivered by a crop elevator to the sloping surface for directing the crop upwardly into mid-portions of the auger flights. In one form of this invention a beater is disposed above a portion of the sloping surface, the beater facilitating the feeding of crop material from the crop elevator to the auger flights on the rotor shaft. The beater is provided with knife sections which cooperate with stationary sections facilitating the splitting of the crop material so that it may be more easily fed into the threshing and separating means. In another form of this invention the crop elevator is provided with means to sever and- /or chop the material as it is being conveyed and away from the header.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZBIBM 3,794,047

SHEET 1 OF 6 INVENTORS EDWARD W\LLIAM ROWLAND-HILL FRANS I DECOENE QTTORNEY PATENTEDFEBZW" I 3.794.047

sum 2 or a INVENTORS EDWARD WlLLlAM ROWLAND-WU.

RANs g. DECOENE V ATTORNEY PATENTED 3,794,047

' saw u or 6 v INVENTORS H8 FRANs J'- De COENE BY FIG 8 fi aw IQTTOEA/(FY EDWARD WlLU AM ROWLAND-WU.

CROP FEEDING MEANS FOR AN AXIAL FLOW COMBINE HAVING SIDE BY SIDE THRESIIING UNITS RELATED APPLICATIONS This application discloses subject matter set forth in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 352,120 filed May 10, 1972, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 790,145 filed Jan. 9, 1969 and entitled An Axial Flow Threshing and Separating Machine, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,472 which was filed on Nov. 24, 1969, and is entitled Means for Feeding Crop Material to an Axial Flow Type Threshing and Separating Combine. An additional species of this invention is set forth in copending application Ser. No. 175,484 filed Aug. 27, 1971 and entitled Header Crop Divider for an Axial Flow Combine Having Side-By-Side Axial Flow Units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to axial flow type combines and is directed particularly to the feeding of the crop material to the threshing and separating means.

Axial flow type combines have a generally cylindrical casing with a concave and separating grate for cooperating with rasp bars and blades mounted on a rotor to form a threshing and separating section and a separating section. The crop material is fed to the threshing and separating section and formed in a mat which is carried around by the rotor for threshing the crop material. Flights are usually provided along the inner surface of the casing to move the crop material axially through the casing.

In prior art devices the crop material is fed to the threshing and separating section of the machine in various ways. One method is to drop the material through an opening in the upper wall of the cylindrical casing onto paddles or augers in front of the threshing and separating section. The paddles and-augers move the crop material axially into the threshing and separating section. In some instances the crop material is dropped directly into the threshing section. A second method is to deliver the crop material in a generally longitudinally direction into the ends of auger flights. The flights engage the crop material and carry it into the threshing and separating section.

These various forms of feeding the crop material into the threshing and separating means have the disadvantages of inconvenience of delivery or incapability of receiving and handling crop material at a rate which matches the speed of the processing of the crop material by the threshing and separating means.

The feeding of the crop material through an opening in the top of the cylindrical casing may be satisfactory for stationary threshing and separating machines such as combines. In a combine the crop elevator must carry the crop material up from the front of the combine to the threshing mechanism. If the material were to be fed into the header at the threshing mechanism from the top of the mechanism it would present problems in the design of the crop elevator since crop elevator must be made larger, heavier and longer to accommodate the greater distance to the opening in the top of the cylindrical member.

If the crop material if fed axially or longitudinally into the end of an auger flight, the feed may actually be tial of the threshing and separating means.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to rapidly and continuously feed large quantities of crops to the threshing and separating section of an axial flow type threshing and separating combine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed means for a threshing and separating section on a mobile combine that utilizes conventional crop elevators for delivering the crop to the feeding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crop feeding means that delivers the incoming crop to the threshing and separating means at the end of the preceding threshing action.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for feeding crop material to an axial flow type threshing and separating means which requires a minimum of space between the threshing and separating means and the crop elevator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for feeding crops to an axial flow type threshing and separatingmeans that handles all types of crop material.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the front bearing supporting the rotating shaft of the threshing and separating means form the wrapping of incoming material.

It is another object to introduce the crop material into the threshing and separating section so that the rotor has ample time to form a crop mat for an efficient and rapid threshing and separation of the grain.

It is another object to provide a construction so that long grasses do not wrap at the bearing end of the shaft causing bearing failure or overheating.

Another object of this invention is to provide a crop feeding beater for an axial flow combine having side by side threshing units.

A still further object of this invention is to provide feeding means for an axial flow combine having side by side threshing units, in which the feeding means are provided with means to separate the crop material into separate streams, one for each threshing unit.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a crop feeding means in the threshing and separating section of an axial flow unit which utilizes standard crop elevators and provides for a rapid introduction of the crop material from the crop elevator to the threshing and separating section in a manner for proper distribution of the crop material in the threshing and separating section. A further purpose is to prevent wrapping of grasses around the front end of the shaft supporting the rotors.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide a crop feed header which facilitates the feeding of the crop material delivered by the crop elevator and which may be provided with means to separate the crop material into discrete streams, one for each axial flow threshing and separating unit.

In summary the crop feeding means comprises axial feeding means for delivering crops to the threshing and separating section and ramp spaced below the feeding means for guiding crops upwardly and intermediately into said axial feeding means for delivery to the threshing and separating section. A beater having knife sections may be disposed above the ramp.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the various features of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an axial flow type combine with a header and a crop elevator mounted on front.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the crop feeding means, the axial threshing and separating means, the discharge conveyor and the grain cleaning and handling means.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the crop elevator and left feeding means taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the crop elevator and right feeding means taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a inner side view of the casing of the crop feeding means and the threshing and separating section.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the crop feeding means.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the casing of the crop feeding means without the feed augers and threshing rotors.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the anti-wrap shield.

FIG. 10 is a somewhat schematic view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of feeding means.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines 1111 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the feed beater shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a modified crop elevator.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the lines 14-14 in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN FIGS. 1 TO 9 Introduction In FIG. I the combine 10 is exteriorly illustrated with a crop elevator 11 and header 12 mounted on front. The main frame or housing 13 of the combine internally supports the crop threshing and separating means 14, the grain cleaning means 15 and the grain pan 16, shown in FIG. 2. The rear housing 21 encloses the discharge conveyor 22 extending rearwardly from the threshing and separating means. On top of the combine is the grain tank 23 and the internal combustion engine 24 positioned to the rear of the tank. The blower 17, grain auger l8 and tailings auger 19 are enclosed in the lower housing underneath the main frame or housing 13. The operator's cab 25 extends forwardly from the main housing 13 and over the crop elevator 11 for a clear view of the header 12. The combine is conventionally supported by two large drive wheels on front and two small steering wheels 31 on the rear.

The threshing and separating means 14 extends longitudinally in the direction of movement of the combine and has the crop feeding means 32 at the front for receiving crop from the header and elevator. The crop is then carried axially and circumferentially to thresh and separate the grain from the crop material and discharge the crop material without the grain at the rear to a conveyor which carries the crop material rearwardly for discharge from the combine.

In this embodiment the threshing and separating means is described as two units in adjacent side by side relation. However, the invention described and shown in this embodiment is equally applicable to a single threshing and separating unit.

Threshing and Separating Means The units 33,34 have generally cylindrical casings 35,36 and rotatable shafts 37,38 extending along the axes A,B of the respective casings. The shafts 37,38 support the feeding augers 45,46, threshing rotors 47,48, and separating rotors 49,50 in the respective casings. The casings, respectively, have longitudinally extending concaves 55,56 and grates 57,58 along the bottom and curved vanes 59,60 on the inner side of the tops of the casings. The threshing rotors 47,48 cooperate with the respective concaves 55,56 to thresh and separate grain from the crops and the separating rotors 49,50 cooperate with the grates 57,58 to separate any grain that is entrained in the crop material. The feeding augers 45,46 are between the threshing rotors and the front walls 65,66 which partially closes the front end of the casings.

Considering the threshing and separating units 33,34 the casings 35,36 have walls extending circumferentially around the respective rotors from one side edge of the respective concaves and grates to the other side edge. These walls are formed by the curved casing top portions 67,68 extending between and secured to the center beam 69 and the side beams 71,72, the center beam 69, side beams 71,72 and curved portions extending from the respective beams to the concaves and grates. The curved vanes 59,60 are mounted on the top portions 67,68 respectively, and axially spaced along the axial length of the top portions to move the crop material axially as it is rotated by the threshing and separating rotors. The concaves have longitudinally extending concave bars and curved transverse rods. The bars are supported by curved transverse beams. The front portion of the casing with the crop feeding means will be described later herein.

The threshing rotors comprise generally elliptically shaped spiders 73,74 firmly attached to the respective shaft 37,38 in axial spaced relation and having the long diameter portion extending adjacent to the casing. The spiders have flanges 75,76 with angled bars 77,78 mounted on the edges adjacent to the casing and have an inwardly extending portion facing in the direction of rotation and a circumferential portion supporting the rasp bars 87,88, respectively. Solid sheet metal members 85,86 are mounted on opposite sides of the rotor and extend the length and width of the rotor to close the spaces between the spiders. The concaves 55,56 may be adjustable to vary the spacing between the rasp bars 87,88 and concaves 55,56 depending upon the type and condition of the crop to be harvested. The elliptical shape of the spiders 73,74 imparts an elliptical shape to the enclosed rotors which forms with the casing axially extending spaces CD on each side of the respective rotors. This provides easy passage of crops through the casing and any debris that may be picked up by the header and conveyed to the threshing and separating units.

yond the end of the grates 57,58 to form a discharge opening 93 at the end of the separating grates. This discharge opening at the rear bottom of the casings provides for the passage of the remainder of the grainless crop. Beams 95,96 at each end of the casings are secured to'the main frame of the combine. The shafts are rotatably mounted in bearings 97,98 supported by these transverse beams on the outer side of the front and rear walls of the casings. The shafts are driven through variable speed drive means (not shown) connected between the internal combustion engine 24 andthe gear transmissions 26 at the rear of the units. The rotors may be rotated over a range of speeds depending upon the type and condition of the crop.

Discharge Conveyor The threshing and separating units are inclined upwardly toward the rear and the discharge conveyor 22 is at a lower level to partially overlap the discharge end of the threshing and separating units and extend rearwardly at a slightly upwardly inclined angle. The discharge conveyor 22 comprises a bottom grate 100 and an endless conveyor 101 having chains 105 mounted on the front sprockets 106 on a front roll 102 and on the rear sprockets (not shown). A chute 103 slopes downwardly from the end of the separating grates 57,58 underneath the discharge openings and then curves slightly upwardly underneath the front end of the conveyor. The chute, bottom grate and conveyor extend transversely across the width of the combine to receive the discharged crop material from both units. The conveyor is ofthe undershot type and has transverse bars 104 attached to the chains 105 for gripping the crop dropped onto the bottom grate and sweeping it rearwardly along the bottom grate for further separation of any remaining entrained grain. Grain Handling and Cleaning Means The grain pan 16 and cleaning means may be conventional. The grain pan 16 is mounted on pivoted linkages 108 and sloped downwardly towards the rear. The pan receives the separated grain passing through the concaves and separating grates and is oscillated foreand-aft to shake and distribute the grain transversely and move it rearwardly for discharge onto the chaffer sieve 109. The chaffer sieve also reciprocates fore-and- Y aft for rearward movement of crop material and to pass grainand tailings onto the grain sieve 110. The crop material is discharged at the rear of the combine. The grain sieve 1 10 is also reciprocated fore-and-aft to separate the grain from the tailings sothat the grain passes through the sieve into the grain auger 18 by means of the chute I07 and the tailings discharges at the rear end for delivery to the tailing auger 19. The grain in the grain auger 18 is delivered to the grain tank by elevator means (not shown) and the tailings are returned to the threshing and separating means by a means (not shown).

Crop Feeding Means The crop feeding means is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 a 8 and receives the cut crop from the elevator 11 on the front of the combine and delivers it to the threshing rotors 47,40. The crop feeding means generally comprises upper curved casing top portions 67,60; side walls 111,112; ramp 113; bottom transition portions 115,116 and augers 45,46.

The cylindrically shaped top portions 67,68 of the casings extend to the front walls 65,66 of the units. The side beams 71,72 and the center beam 69 also extend forwardly to join with the transverse beam across the front of the combine. The sides 1 1 1,1 12 of the main frame and casing 13 of the combine extend forwardly to the front vertical beams 117,110 at the front side comers.

The bottom of the crop feeding means is substantially different in shape from the casings 35,36. The ramp 113 is a linear element surface extending across the width of the combine. At the converging portion 115,116 the ramp has a convex portion 125 turning sharply downward into a downward sloping portion 126 of a generally concave shape to form an opening with the transverse beam 95. The opening has a substantial height with a crop passing portion 120a below the pitch circle E of the auger flights. The crop elevator is mounted on the front of the combine by conventional pivotal attachment to the beams 1 17,1 18. The axis F of rotation of the upper sprockets 121 of the crop elevator 11 and of pivot of the crop elevator is substantially on the line of the pitch circle E of the auger flights. The cut crops are delivered by the undershot conveyor 124i across the width of the combine through crop passing opening portion 120a which is below the pitch circle E of the auger flights of the crop feeding means. The bottom wall 122 of the crop elevator overlaps above the forward portion of the ramp and has a resilient sealing lip 123 engaging the ramp. The contour of the concave portion follows the pivotal movement of the elevator. The planar side walls 111,112 extend downwardly from the side beams 71,72 to the ramp to close the sides of the crop feeding means.

The two transition portions 115,116 extend rearwardly from the rear edge of the ramp and gradually change rearwardly into a cylindrical or circular shape to match the curved shape of the concaves. The two transition portions join to form a rearwardly sloped edge 127 between the two portions extending upwardly from the ramp to the center beam between the two units. The transition portions extend around on the sides to about the level of the axes of the casings (FIG. 3).

Each of the shafts 37,30 have two flights 45a,b and 46a, b and (FTGS. 4 and 5) corresponding to their respective longitudinal edges on the threshing rotors. The flights are circumferentially 180 apart and taper at the forward ends to fit within the conical anti-wrap shields 150,151. Each of the flights are a full turn. The first quarter turn of the flights are forward of the commencement of the convex portion of the ramp (FIG. 3). A passage is provided between the ramp and the back surface of the first quarter turn of a respective auger flight when in the downward projecting position. When the auger flights are adjacent a respective convex portion at the top end of the ramp, the flights are sheared as indicated at 130,131,132,133, respectively, (FIG. 5) to provide space between the edge of the auger and the ramp. These two positions are also illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the ramp 113, transition portions 115,116 and the front edge of the concaves 55,56 are viewed from the front and the direction in which the crop is proceeding into the combine. The auger 46 has the first quarter of the flight 46a extending down and forward of the convex portion 125 so the crops can feed in back of this portion of a flight. The auger 45 is shown with the shear'131 of flight 45a generally parallel to the ramp and spaced (FIG. to permit the crops to move over the portion 125. The first quarter of the other flight 45b is moving down into the lower position similar to the first quarter of flight 45a. This passage provides ample space for the crop to move up into the mid-portions of the auger flights. Thus there is a continuous passage for the crop to slide up the ramp underneath and back of the leading quarter turns of the flight into the mid-portions of the augers. As the flights rotate the crop material is moved rearwardly and circumferentially against the strippers 135,136. The last quarter of the flights sweep the crop into the threshing and separating section.

The stripper bars or members 135,136 are along the sides of the crop feeding means. The auger flights carry the crop against the bars so that the crop material is moved axially by the latter portion of the auger flights. The bars are positioned to follow the concaves so material is delivered immediately after the threshing rotors have left the concaves. The auger flights 45a,b and 46a,b have terminating ends ahead of the respective rasp bars 87,88 at 138,139,140,l41 (FIG. 3). The crop is introduced ahead of a respective rotor by the terminating ends and subsequent to the respective concaves by the stripper bars. The crop then may arrange in a proper crop mat as it is carried over the rotor along the top portions 67,68 of cylinder casings. The threshing and separating rotor ends of the stripper bars 135,136 are angled in the direction of rotation so that the crop will be moving circumferentially in the direction of rotation of the rotors. This assists in the arrangement of the crop mat.

Anti-Wrap Means At the intake end of the augers 45,46 are preferably preceded by cone shaped members or anti-wrap shields 150,151. These shields are fixedly attached to the beam 95. However, it may be desirable to rotate the shields relative to the beam. In FIG. 9 a rotatable embodiment is shown in which a member or shield 152 has an annular collar 153 in rotatably relation with a mounting 153a fixedly attached to the beam 95. The collar is held axially by fitting in an annular groove 154 in the mounting. A conical portion 155 extends circumferentially completely around the shaft and flaring radially outwardly from the shaft in the direction towards the respective auger and the discharge end of the threshing and separating units. The anti-wrap shields protect the bearing means 156 rotatably supporting the shaft in the beam. The peripheral edge of the conical portion is spaced from the casing to permit the entry of crops. The leading end of the respective helical flight extends within and radially overlaps with the conical member. The cone shaped member or anti-wrap shield prevents the fouling of the shaft by entering crop material that may become entwined.

Summary of Features and Advantages of the Embodiment Shown in FIGS. 1 9

The continuous, unimpeded flow of all types of crops from the header to the threshing rotor has been attained with the use of conventional crop elevators. The crop feeding means operates over the wide range of rotor speeds depending on the threshing requirements and draws cut crops delivered by the crop elevator into the threshing and separating units. The crops are introduced into the threshing rotor and the crop mat is formed by the time the rotors reach the concaves for the threshing action. The inward feed of the crop under the auger flights and then the upward turning of the crop by the ramp introduces the crop in a sidewise or generally radial direction which is generally along the flight surfaces rather than against the flight surfaces as in axial or longitudinal feedingjThe generally radial feeding provides for a rapid grasp or engagement of the cut crops by the auger flights. The crops are moved rapidly over a quarter turn against the stripper bars for axial movement of the cut crops towards the threshing rotors. The relieved or angle portion of the bars permit a circumferential component to the movement of the crops for better grasping of the crops by the rotors.

A particular advantage of this invention is the short and minimum space the crop feeding means requires. The length of the crop feeding augers is about the same as the diameter of the pitch. The space underneath the threshing and separating units does not enlarge the combine but utilizes space made available by the other components of the combine so that the height of the combine is not increased to accommodate the opening and space for passing the crops.

Although the foregoing description is in connection with multiple threshing and separating units, the crop feeding means may also be used to feed a single threshing and separating unit. The single unit would preferably be positioned in the middle of the combine and a single converging portion would connect the threshing section with the ramp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN IN FIGS. 10 THROUGH 14 It has been found during test work of the design shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 that occasionally feeding problems may occur. This is particularly true when working in heavy long stemmed green crops, such as for example, rye found in Northern Europe. In these conditions a thick and tangled mat of crop material is propelled rearwardly by the crop elevator 124 towards the rotors 45,46. It is then necessary for the feed augers to draw the material rearwardly past the transition portions 115,116 to tear the mat of entangled material apart. This tearing apart of the crop material by the feed augers consumes considerable horsepower. To improve the feeding characteristics in these tough straw conditions it may be desirable to provide means to chop the straw mat delivered by the crop elevator into discrete streams, one for each of the side by side axial flow units.

In FIGS. 10 through 12 a feed beater, indicated generally at 160, is mounted in a box frame member indicated generally at 162, the box frame member being in turn secured to the forward end of the combine. The box frame member includes an upper wall 164, right and left side walls 166,168 and a lower wall 170. The lower wall 170 is secured to the front vertical beams 117,118 by means of a transversely extending angle bracket 172 and to the transverse beam in any conventional fashion. The header mounting brackets 174 which are normally mounted on the front of the combine are remounted on the forward end of the box frame member 162 as can be seen from FIG. 10, and

the header, which includes the crop elevator 11, is

mounted on these brackets 174 in a conventional fashion. The ramp 113 extends into the box frame member 162 and its forward end is supported on the floor formed by the lower wall 178. Similarly the bottom wall of the crop elevator extends rearwardly into sealing engagement with the forward portion of the lower wall 170, this portion extending forwardly of the side wall 166,168 and the upper wall 164.

The feed beater 160 includes a transversely extending shaft 176 which extends through the side walls 164,166,168 and is supported in bearing members 178. The shaft can be rotated in any conventional manner, such as for example, by a sheave 180 over which a belt is disposed, the belt being driven in turn from the combine in a conventional manner. Mounted about the shaft 176, in a manner not material to the present invention are a plurality of L-shaped beater members 182, each of the beater members having a short leg having a serrated edge which is adapted to engage the mat of crop material being fed upwardly by the undershot conveyor 124 of the crop elevator 11. As can be seen the long leg of the beater members 84 is welded or otherwise secured to the short leg to form a rigid box-like structure.

1t has been found through testing that it is desirable to run the feed beater at a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of the crop elevator 124 so as to accelerate the crop material as it is fed towards the axial flow threshing units. Thus, when comining small grains it is desirable to drive the beater at 750 revolutions per minute.

While the use of the beater alone facilitates the feeding of crop material to an axial flow combine it has been found that the feeding can further be facilitated, particularly when feeding to a combine having multiple axial flow threshing units, by providing the beater with means to sever or chop the mat of crop material being fed by the elevator 11 into discrete streams, one for each unit. To this end gussets having a circular outer surface, are welded to the beater members 182, the gussets being disposed between side by side axial flow threshing and separating units. This can best be seen from FIG. 11. Mounted on each of the gussets l are conventional knife sections 186 which project radially outwardly beyond the circular peripheral of the gussets 184. To further facilitate the cutting and/or chopping apart of the mat of crop material fed upwardly and rearwardly by the undershot conveyor 124 stationary knife sections 188 are mounted on the floor 170, the stationary knives projecting upwardly through the floor in the manner shown in FIGS. and 11. The rotating knives pass between the stationary knives 188. In order to provide for misalignment the knives 188 are spaced approximately one-half inch (1.5 centimeters) apart.

It can be seen that with the above construction that the crop material fed upwardly by the undershot conveyor 124 will be chopped apart into separate streams and projected upwardly at an increased speed into the augers 45,46 of the axial flow units.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 another construction is illustrated wherein the straw mat is fed upwardly by the undershot conveyor 124 and is substantially severed or chopped into discrete streams prior to discharge by the elevator. To this end a plurality of longitudinally aligned knife sections 191) are provided which project upwardly through the floor or bottom wall 122 of the crop elevator 11. The knife sections are mounted on a longitudinally extending mounting beam 192 which is in turn secured to the underside of the bottom wall 122. To this end, the bottom wall 122 is provided with downwardly projecting front and rear apertured mounting blocks 194,196, respectively to which the beam 192 is secured by bolts. The front mounting block has an elongated aperture. A cam block 198 is positioned on the bolt which passes through the forward end of the beam 192 and the block 194 and the block assists in holding the forward end of the beam in various positions of vertical adjustment. The bottom wall is provided with apertures through which the knife sections project. As can be seen from FIG. 14 each of the cross slots 199 is notched as at 201), the knife sections being so disposed that they project into the notches, the knives and the cross slots to either side of the notches acting in concert or sever and/or tear the crop material.

It has been found in testing that the use of a beater with knives will materially reduce the horsepower requirements of a multiple rotor axial flow combine. It has been that if the combine is provided with knife sections to cooperate with the undershot conveyor there is also a significant reduction in horsepower requirements. Finally it has been found that if the combine is provided with both knife sections in the crop conveyor and knife sections on the beater that there is a cumulative reduction in horsepower.

While the invention has been described, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an axial flow combine having multiple side by side threshing and separating units, each unit having forward feeding means disposed over a ramp upon which crop material is conveyed, and a crop elevator which conveys a stream of crop material towards said feeding means, the combination therewith of means operable to sever and/or chop said stream of crop material into discrete, generally equally sized streams of crop material one for each of said multiple side by side threshing and separating units.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said severing and/or chopping means includes a feed beater disposed between said crop elevator and said feeding means, said beater being provided with knife means operable to sever the stream of material delivered by the crop elevator into discrete streams.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said feed beater is provided with a plurality of knife sections disposed in a plane normal to the rotational axis of the feed beater.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said plurality of knife sections cooperate with fixed knife section means supported below said feed beater.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said crop elevator includes an undershot conveyor and the severing and/or chopping means includes fixed knife means extending upwardly towards the undershot conveyor to sever the stream of crop material as it passes between the knife means and the conveyor.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said undershot conveyor includes a plurality of notched cross slats, said notches cooperating with said knife means to facilitate severing and/or chopping of the crop material. 

1. In an axial flow combine having multiple side by side threshing and separating units, each unit having forward feeding means disposed over a ramp upon which crop material is conveyed, and a crop elevator which conveys a stream of crop material towards said feeding means, the combination therewith of means operable to sever and/or chop said stream of crop material into discrete, generally equally sized streams of crop material one for each of said multiple side by side threshing and separating units.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said severing and/or chopping means includes a feed beater disposed between said crop elevator and said feeding means, said beater being provided with knife means operable to sever the stream of material delivered by the crop elevator into discrete streams.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said feed beater is provided with a plurality of knife sections disposed in a plane normal to the rotational axis of the feed beater.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said plurality of knife sections cooperate with fixed knife section means supported below said feed beater.
 5. The combination set forTh in claim 1 in which said crop elevator includes an undershot conveyor and the severing and/or chopping means includes fixed knife means extending upwardly towards the undershot conveyor to sever the stream of crop material as it passes between the knife means and the conveyor.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said undershot conveyor includes a plurality of notched cross slats, said notches cooperating with said knife means to facilitate severing and/or chopping of the crop material.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said crop elevator includes an undershot conveyor and the severing and/or chopping means includes fixed knife means extending upwardly towards the undershot conveyor to severe the stream of crop material as it passes between the knife means and the conveyor.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which said undershot conveyor includes a plurality of notched cross slats, said notches cooperating with said knife means to facilitate severing and/or chopping of the crop material. 